Homework is a set of tasks assigned to students by their teacher. The student is to complete the tasks outside the class. Homework is an essential aspect of the learning process. With homework, the whole learning process becomes more effective. Although this has been a long term culture, many of us had never inquired who started it, when it started or its purpose. It is therefore essential to learn the history of homework.
History of Homework
The invention of homework happened way back in the 1st century. In ancient Rome, Pliny instructed some of his subjects to take part in some exercises at home. The exercise aimed to develop the language skills of his followers in an informal situation. The result of this exercise was impressive. Hence, other teachers adopted the homework method. Italian Roberto Nevilis is credited as the founding father of homework. In 1905, he established homework as a punishment for disobedient students. Since then, homework became recognized globally.
In the late 1800s, there was a significant change in the educational system. These changes had a relationship with the type of homework their teachers gave, which positively influenced the quality of education. Teachers who followed the homework approach saw it training for their students and made it compulsory. From this perspective, they saw homework as a means of facilitating individual learning, initiative and creative ability of students, which was a necessary ingredient for educational development. Homework will achieve the teacher’s purpose if these guidelines are considered:
- It should be within the scope of lessons taught in class
- Avoid overwhelming or complex exercises.
- It should only be decided after the students can work on their own.
Purposes of Homework
- To help retain the knowledge gained in school; mastery requires repeated practice. In preparing homework for children, a teacher should take cognizance of the stages in mastery:
Perception- Comprehension- Fastening- Formation of skills- Application of new knowledge
- To help students work without haste, choose the desired time to work and learn how to make use of essential sources of information.
- To help build independence and the creative ability of students.
Types of Homework
The main goal of the teacher is the type of homework which depends on the topic in question. He should be able to unite different variants of homework in every class effectively. An effective way to carry this out is outdoor learning. Homework types include: dramatizing of oral exercises & written exercises, the performance of creative work, etc.
In conclusion, homework shouldn’t manipulate the students but it is an opportunity to dedicate time to the subject. Through this, they would be able to retain what they ave learned in class. Without homework, a student deprives himself of the opportunity to gain more in-depth knowledge about the subject topic.